Theater switch panel



March 14, 1933. B. F. FULLER THEATER SWITCH PANEL original Filed July 14, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

INVENTOR Bert F Fuller.

ATT'ORNEY March 14, 1933. B. F. FULLER THEATER SWITCH PANEL Original FilecLJuly 14, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4.

Ill

- lNVENTOR Bert F Fuller.

ATT' R EY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y B. F. FULLER THEATER SWITCH PANEL Fig. 5.

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March 14, 1933.

INVENTOR Bert F7 Fuller. WTCRNEY Patented Mar. I4,

1 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFF-ICE new if. FU LER, or sentiments, CALIFORNIA, Assienoa {no WESTINGHOUSE em- "rare & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 'A CORPORATION or IENNSYLVANIA THEATER swrrcii PANEL ori' mn application filed any 14, 1923,,ser1a1 N6. 651,658, now Patent No. 1,760,943, dated June a, 1930. 'Divided and this application filed Aprn 2a, 1930. sen-a1 No. 446,677.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 651,658, filed July 14,

1923, which has become Patent No. 1,760,943,

issued June 3, 1930. v

My invention relates to circuit controlling apparatus and particularly to apparatus for controlling lighting circuits used in illuminating theater stages, auditoriums, etc.

In certain forms of circuit controlling ape paratus for theater lighting, relays are used for controlling the various circuits about the stage. In the course of the performance, different circuits are energized for illuminat ing difiierent parts of the stage. A separate circuit is used for different colored lamps and, consequently, a separate control switch is provided for each circuit.

' In the usual circuit control panel, it has been the custom to employ certain forms of switch mechanism that may be adjusted or set up for each scene. The adjustment is usually made for the next succeedin scene while one scene is being enacted. Tlns form of apparatus necessitates the presence of a skilled operator for selecting the mechanism that is to be energized. for each change of scene.

One object of my invention is to provide a circuit controlling apparatus for theater lighting in which a simple form of switch mechanism is used for controlling the different lamps upon the'stage or other sections of the theater and in which a predetermined set up may be arrangedfor each and every scene that is to be enacted,.so that it-is only necessary to close the proper circuits successively as the scenes are being enacted.

Another object of my invention is to provide a circuit controlling apparatus for theater light'ing in which a portable switchboard of simple construction may be connected for controlling the lighting circuits of the stage or any part of the theater from a remote point.

Another object of my invention is to provide a circuit controlling apparatus for theater lighting in which each lamp circuit may be controlled by an electromagnetic switch and wherein the circuits through the magnetic switches are controlled by a switch mechanism of simple construction thatis inexpensive to manufacture and which occupies a minimum of space.

In myco-pending application, Serial No. 577,830, filed July 27, 1922, now Patent No. 1,640,542, issuedAug. 30, 1927, I have disclosed acircuit controlling apparatus having characteristics similar to those outlined above and it is a further object of my invention to provide a circuit controlling apparatus particularly adapted for theater lighting having characteristics in general like those of the apparatus disclosed in the said co-pend ing application, but wherein selective switches are provided for each control circuit that may be set for any given scene and wherein a single control lever or handle is provided with a conductor for simultaneously energizing the circuit selected and wherein the operating handle causes the circuits to be simultaneously opened or closed with a snap action, thereby eliminating difiiculties incident to slow operation of the switch and any tendency to burn the contacts. I

Another object of my inventionisto provide a theater control panel that is compact and which may be enclosed within a metal cabinet and wherein the selective switches are accessible through an opening in the cover that is closed by a door which may be sealed or looked after a desired set up has been made, thereby insuring that the set up cannotbe altered by anyone except an authorized person.

Another object of my invention is to provide a theater control panel wherein all of the switch mechanism is enclosed within a met-alcasing in such manner that only the operating handles for controlling a set up for each separate scene is accessible, the arrangement being such that the handles may be successivel and progressively opened and closed as the play progresses.

These and other objects that will be made apparent throughout the further description of my invention are attained by means of the apparatus herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a fragmental front elevation of a theater panel with portions of the enclosing housing cut away. I

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the switch mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the switch apparatus'taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

.eig. 4 is a transverse section through switch mechanism taken on the line 44 of Fig. '2, and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram showing the connections between the switch apparatus and the feed and load circuits. I

Referring tirsttothediagram' shown in 5, the control system comprises a threew, to which'load circuits 9, 10, 11, 12, 13' and 14 are connected through the medium of electromagnetic double pole switches 16, 17, 18, 19 and respectively. Each load circuit is provided with a dimmer 21, by means of which the intensity of the illumination in each circuit may be separately varied. V

For the purpose of illustration the lamp circuits 9 and 10 are for illuminating respectively foot and border lamps with white light, thelamp circuits 11 and 12 are for illuminating respectively the foot and border lamps with red light and. the lamp circuits 13 and 14 are for illuminatin the foot and border lamps with blue light.

Elie switches 15 to 20, inclusive, are actuated respectively by electromagnets'22 to 27, *iclusive, each having magnetic coils 28 to 33 s ectively that are connected in separate 9, respectively, which are connected respectively to vertically disposed busbars to 45,

to 51, inclusive, that selectively engage stationa::y contacts 52 to 57, respectively,'that are connected to the conouctors 34 to 39, re cly The switches 46 to 51, inclusive, ar r soectiv'ely connected to contact membe i 8 to 63, inclusive, that are adapted to be .ged simultaneously by movable busba 65 ..nd 66, which are provided for 9; the circuits connected to the contact members 58 to 63, inclusive, of g each group-of contact members.

Each busbar 64, 65 and 66 controls the illumination for separate sceneand for the purpose of illustration three busbars are shown forcontrolling three separate scenes and it will be understood that a busbar may be provided extendim transversely of the busbars 40 to inclusive for each additional scene required for an entire play. The busbars'64, 65 and 66 are connected to a main busbar 67 by means of contact members 71, 72 and 73 which respectively engage the bars when thelatter are rotated through an'angle e teed circuit having conductors 6, 7 and 8 "ontrol circuits including conductors 34 to' of substantially 90. However, it will be understood that the bars 64, 65 and 66 may be arranged to be moved into engagement with the contact members in any preferred manner. The busbar 67 is connected to the neutral'conductor 8 by a conductor 74, single- .pole switch 75, and conductor 76. The switch trolled by the movable busbar 64. If it is desired to have white lights burning in the foot and borderlamp circuits, red lights in the foot lamp circuit and blue lights in the border lamp circuit, the switches 46, 47, 48

and 51 are moved to closed positions, the remaining switches 49 and 50 being maintained in open position. In similar manner, the selector switches 46 to 51 associated with the other busbars and 66 are positioned for the desired ligl1t.set up for each successive scene. It must be understood that at the beginning of a performance and before. the curtain is raised,all of the busbars 64 and 66 are disconnected: from the main busbar 67 and consequently the control circuits are dead. At the beginning of the play, the master control switch is closed, thereby causing the control switch 75 to close the control circuit. When the busba-r 64 which controls the illumination of the first scene is moved into engagement with the contacts 71 on the busbar 67, current will flow in the control circuit through conductor 76, control switch 75, conductor 74, busbar 6'7, switch 68, busbar 64, contacts 58, 59, 60 and 63, selector switches 46, 47, 48 and51,and thence to busba'rs 40, 41, 42 and 45 through the magnetic coils'28, 29, 30 and 33 to the feed conductors 6 and 7. The circuits containing the white lamps in the footand border circuits, the red lamps in the foot circuits and the blue lamps in the border circuits will be illuminated by 1S moved to closed position.

Assumingthat a. certain selection of circuits had previously been made by the proper positioning of the selector switches, the predetermined lighting for the second scene will be obtained. The predetermined lighting for the third scene will be obtained by opening the switch 69 and closing the busbar switch 70 of the busbar 66. In this manner, the lighting of an entire performance, be accomplished by simply progressively opening and closing-the 'busbars'for controlling the lighting'ot each successivescene. It is not necessary that a skilled operator be present during the performance in order to provide proper selection of the circuits, and that complicated lighting control incidentto a large number of scenes is reduced to the simple opening and closing of a a row of switches that may be progressively operated. It will be observed from the diagram, the drawings and the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 that the operating handles for adjacent busbars 64, and 66 are disposed alternately on opposite sides of the housing for preventing interference of one operating handle with the other and thereby reducing the distanccbetween the busbars and rendering the entire switch apparatus compact.

By reason of the compact nature of the selector switches illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, it is possible to provide control apparatus for a great variety of'circuits and for a. great number ofscenes that may be contained and confined-within relatively small limits, thus making the apparatus ideal for installation in theater stages or in remote movingpicture booths. By reason of the simplicity of the arrangement, it is apparent that the apparatuscan be arranged for remote control, and that the lighting apparatus'ofan entire production maybe controlled from a moving p1cture booth located at the rear of the auditorium. 1

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the control apparatus includes'an insulating panel or base member 82 that is adapted to be secured to-a wall of-the stage or a moving picture booth.

In Fig. 5, I have diagrammatically shown a system having six control circuits, but in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2, it will be apparent that provision is made for 16 control circuits in a relatively compact limit of space. The circuit control busbars 40 vto 45 are mounted upon the rear face 83 of the panel, and for the purpose of illustration the selector switch 58 that is connected to the busbar 40 will be described, for the reason that the apparatus connected to the switch 58 and busbar 40 is typical of the switches and apparatus connected to the other corresponding bu'sbars and for the same reason the apparatus connected to the transverse busbar 65 will be described as illustrative of the construction of the other transverse busbars, which may be termed scene-controlling busbars.

The selector switch 58 is mounted within an insulating shell 83-that is closed by a metal cover 84 which carries apivotedjhandle '85 having an insulating cam 86 secured thereto for engaging a contact member 87 that is secured within the shell 83 by means of a screw 88 that serves to attach a terminal member 89 to the switch shell 83. The terminal member 89 is connected to the busbar 40 by meansof a conductive bolt=91, as indicated in Fig. '4. The contact member 87 is, adapted to be moved by the cam 86 into conductive engagement with a contact member .92 that is secured within the shell 83" by means of -a screw 93 that serves to secures. terminal mem- 1 her 94 tothe shell- The switch shell 83 is mounted upon an insulating support or base 95 that is made of flat insulating plates 96 and 97 that are secured together by, means of the conductive bolt91 and constitute a s'upis positioned in such manner that the legs 97 thereof are alternately disposedion opposite sides of the busbar 65, thereby constitutingv a shield and enclosure for. protecting the busbar 65. The construction of the switch support 95 is as indicated inthe drawings, of

such compact nature that a greatlnumber of control circuits may be mounted upon a relatively narrow board or panel and that the scene control busbars may be disposedrelatively close together, thus reducing theoverall length of the control apparatus insuch manner that it necessitates but a relatively limited space for its installation.

The busbar 65 comprises a metal operating rod or bar 98 that is 'rotatably mounted insupporting brackets 102 and 103 that are secured to the base member 82. :The end of the bar 98 projects beyond the bracket102 .into engagement with a quick make-and-break switch mechanism 104 that may be of any preferred standard construction, the details of which form no part of my invention and will not be described in detail herein. The quick make-and-break mechanism 104 is connected by an operating crank 105 that adapted to extend exteriorly .of the housing 106 that. en-

closed the entirecontrol switch apparatus.

An insulating sleeve or bushing 107 is mounted upon the rod 98 between the brackets 102 and 103 and supports two, busbars 65 on diametrically opposite sides of the bushing as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. The busbars 65 are simultaneously energized by .means of contact clips 72 that are mounted upon the base 8 2and which are connected to the busbar 67 by means of conductive bolts 109 which serve to attach the clipsr72 to the panel 82. The clips 72 are adapted toconductively engage the busbar 65 when the busbar is in the position indicated in Figs. 2, 3

and 4, at which time it will be seen that the busbars 65 engage the contact members, 99

that are connected to .the selector switches .58

to 63. When therod198 is rotated the Ebars 65 are mov ed-routiof er gagement with the contact members 99 and contact clips 7 2 and", consequently, interrupt the. circuit through the main control busbar 67 and the control circuit busbars 41 to 45. By reason of thequick make-and-break switch mecha nism for'rotating the bar 98 withva snap action, injurious arcing of the contacts is prevented when the bars are moved out of engagement with the" contact members 99.

The metalhousing 106 is provided with a cover'11'l having an opening 112 therein that is closed by a hinged door 113' having a latch 114 that may, if preferred, be key controlled in order to seal the selector switches, which are exposed through the opening in the cover, against manipulation by unauthorized persons. Before a performance is to be given, the lighting of the entire performance may be selected by proper positioning of the selector switches and the door'113 then locked. As the scenes are changed the control handles 105 may be operated as required, It will be seen that where the'same performance is to be repeatedly produced in the same theater,

with this system of control it will not be necessary to rearranged the circuits for each performance as has been heretofore customary in stage controlling systems wherein it was possible to set up but one scene in advance of the other. I

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modi scope of my invention, as set fications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: I

1. Switch mechanism comprising a plurality of parallel conductors, a movable conductor extending transversely of'the other conductors, a group of contact members adapted to be simultaneously engaged by the movable conductor and separateswitches for selectively connecting thecontact members to the parallel conductors.

. 2. Switch mechanism comprising a plurality of parallel conductors, a plurality of parallel movable conductors extending transversely of the other conductors, a group of contact members for each movable conductor comprising a separate contact member for 1 each of the first said conductors adapted to be engaged by the movable conductor, and a separate switch for each contact member for selectively connecting the contact members to the first said conductors. 7

3. The combination with a pair of transversely disposed conductors, one of which is movable, of a contact member adapted to be engaged by the movable conductor and an independent switch for connecting the contact member to the other conductor.

4. The combination with a plurality of tending transversely of the first conductor and disposed on the other side of the panel, an insulating support, means for securing the support to the panel, a switch mounted on the support having one terminal connected to the first conductor by the said securing means and the other connected to a contact member, and means for moving the movable conductor into engagement withthe contact member.

6. Switch mechanism comprising a panel having a plurality of parallel conductors mounted on the panel, a movable conductor disposed transversely of the parallel conductors, a switch for each parallel conductor, a support for each switch comprising an insulating member of L-shape having oneleg thereof secured to the panel and the other overhanging the movable conductor, means for connecting the switch to each parallel conductor and a contact member secured to the underside of the overhanging leg of the support for engaging the movable conductor.

7. SWitch'mechanism comprising a panel having a plurality of parallel conductors mounted on the panel, a movable conductor disposed transversely of the parallel conductors, a switch for each parallel conductor,

a supportfor each switch comprising an in- I ing a switch to each of the parallel conductors and a contact member connected to each switch for engaging the movable conductor.

8. Switch mechanism comprising a plurality of parallel conductors, a contact member for each parallel conductor, a separate switch for selectively connecting each contact memher to its respective conductor, a rotatable conductor extending transversely of the parallel conductors and movable into and out of engagement with the contact members and means for actuating the rotatable conductor with a snap action.

9. Switch mechanism comprising a plurality of parallel conductors, a contact member for each parallel conductor, a separate switch for selectively'connecting each contact memher to its respective conductor, a rotatable conductor extending transversely of the parallel conductors and movable into and out of engagement with the contact members and means enclosing the movable conductor and for supportin the contact members on opposite sides 0 the movable conductor.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of April, 1930.

BERT F. FULLER. 

